Changes

[[File:Columb1.jpg|thumb|220px|left|[[Thomas Nast]], the great cartoonist of the 1870s, often used Columbia to portray America.  Here she is enslaved by taxes. ''Harper's Weekly'' Feb. 9, 1878]]

[[File:Columb1.jpg|thumb|220px|left|[[Thomas Nast]], the great cartoonist of the 1870s, often used Columbia to portray America.  Here she is enslaved by taxes. ''Harper's Weekly'' Feb. 9, 1878]]

Columbia was introduced by black poet Phillis Wheatley (1753-1784) in her 1776 poem, "To His Excellency [[George Washington]]". <ref>Previous poems by others had used the term in the 1760s, but they were forgotten.</ref> Wheatley's poem was based heavily on classical Roman sources, which she used in translation, and as befits a model of [[Republicanism]], Columbia is garbed in Roman dress. <ref>Thomas J. Steele, "The Figure of Columbia: Phillis Wheatley plus George Washington," ''New England Quarterly,'' Vol. 54, No. 2 (Jun., 1981), pp. 264-266 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/364975 in JSTOR]</ref> Washington was impressed and asked to meet Wheatley. The term caught public fancy and many places in the United States were named after her, such as the [[District of Columbia]], [[Columbia University]], and the Colombia River.<Ref> In 1858, [[Queen Victoria]], on advice of her husband Prince Albert, chose  [[British Columbia|"British Columbia"]] for a new colony that later became part of Canada. It was named after the Columbia Department of the Hudson Bay Company, which in turn was named after the Columbia River. Ged Martin, "The Naming of British Columbia," ''Albion: A Quarterly Journal Concerned with British Studies,'' Vol. 10, No. 3 (Autumn, 1978), pp. 257-263 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/4048132 in JSTOR]</ref>  Before Columbia came into wide use around 1790, America was often represented as an Indian princess, especially in European cartoons.  

Columbia was introduced by black poet Phillis Wheatley (1753-1784) in her 1776 poem, "To His Excellency [[George Washington]]".<ref>Previous poems by others had used the term in the 1760s, but they were forgotten.</ref> Wheatley's poem was based heavily on classical Roman sources, which she used in translation, and as befits a model of [[Republicanism]], Columbia is garbed in Roman dress.<ref>Thomas J. Steele, "The Figure of Columbia: Phillis Wheatley plus George Washington," ''New England Quarterly,'' Vol. 54, No. 2 (Jun., 1981), pp. 264-266 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/364975 in JSTOR]</ref> Washington was impressed and asked to meet Wheatley. The term caught public fancy and many places in the United States were named after her, such as the [[District of Columbia]], [[Columbia University]], and the Colombia River.<ref>In 1858, [[Queen Victoria]], on advice of her husband Prince Albert, chose  [[British Columbia|"British Columbia"]] for a new colony that later became part of Canada. It was named after the Columbia Department of the Hudson Bay Company, which in turn was named after the Columbia River. Ged Martin, "The Naming of British Columbia," ''Albion: A Quarterly Journal Concerned with British Studies,'' Vol. 10, No. 3 (Autumn, 1978), pp. 257-263 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/4048132 in JSTOR]</ref>  Before Columbia came into wide use around 1790, America was often represented as an Indian princess, especially in European cartoons.  

[[File:Space Shuttle Columbia NASA.jpg|thumb|Space Shuttle Columbia, NASA.]]

[[File:Space Shuttle Columbia NASA.jpg|thumb|Space Shuttle Columbia, NASA.]]

==History==

==History==

In 1792, a statue of Columbus was raised at Tammany Hall in New York City and an eloquent oration was delivered by Mr. John B. Johnson. A toast of honor was given, <ref>[http://www.millersville.edu/~columbus/data/art/WESTKLN1.ART Columbus and Columbia, Millersville.edu]</ref> ''"May the genius of liberty, as she has conducted the sons of Columbia with glory to the commencement of the fourth century, guard their fame to the end of time." ''  

In 1792, a statue of Columbus was raised at Tammany Hall in New York City and an eloquent oration was delivered by Mr. John B. Johnson. A toast of honor was given,<ref>[http://www.millersville.edu/~columbus/data/art/WESTKLN1.ART Columbus and Columbia, Millersville.edu]</ref> ''"May the genius of liberty, as she has conducted the sons of Columbia with glory to the commencement of the fourth century, guard their fame to the end of time." ''  

[[File:Gast1872a.jpg|thumb|200px|John Gast, "American progress" (1872); she holds a school book and a telegraph wire]]

[[File:Gast1872a.jpg|thumb|200px|John Gast, "American progress" (1872); she holds a school book and a telegraph wire]]

===To His Excellency George Washington - Wheatley's Poem===

===To His Excellency George Washington - Wheatley's Poem===

:One century scarce perform'd its destined round,<br>

:One century scarce perform'd its destined round,

When Gallic powers Columbia's fury found;<br>

When Gallic powers Columbia's fury found;<br>

And so may you, whoever dares disgrace<br>

And so may you, whoever dares disgrace<br>

===Hail Columbia===

===Hail Columbia===

[[File:Branded.jpg|thumb|220px|Columbia appears as "Public Opinion" who brands corrupt politicians in this ''Puck'' cartoon of Aug. 11, 1886]]  

[[File:Branded.jpg|thumb|220px|Columbia appears as "Public Opinion" who brands corrupt politicians in this ''Puck'' cartoon of Aug. 11, 1886]]  

Unofficial national anthem until the Star Spangled Banner. The song is still used today for the entrance of the Vice President. <ref>[http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08078/865947-42.stm Hail, Miss Columbia: Once a U.S. symbol, she's lost out to Uncle Sam, Lady Liberty, Post-Gazette.com]</ref>

Unofficial national anthem until the Star Spangled Banner. The song is still used today for the entrance of the Vice President.<ref>[http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08078/865947-42.stm Hail, Miss Columbia: Once a U.S. symbol, she's lost out to Uncle Sam, Lady Liberty, Post-Gazette.com]</ref>

Hail, Columbia, happy land,<br>

Hail, Columbia, happy land,<br>

Ever mindful what it cost,<br>

Ever mindful what it cost,<br>

Ever grateful for the prize,<br>

Ever grateful for the prize,<br>

Let its alter reach the skies.<br><br>

Let its alter reach the skies.

 

 

Firm, united let us be,<br>

Firm, united let us be,<br>

Rallying round our liberty,<br>

Rallying round our liberty,<br>

As a band of brothers join'd<br>

As a band of brothers join'd<br>

Peace and safety we shall find.<br><br>

Peace and safety we shall find.

 

 

Sound, sound the trump of fame,<br>

Sound, sound the trump of fame,<br>

{{Clear}}

{{Clear}}

[[File:Samoa1889.jpg|thumb|300px|Germania (Germany) and Columbia are united in grief after a cyclone killed 50 American sailors and 90 German sailors in Samoa in March, 1889. ''Puck'' cover, April 10, 1889<ref> See [http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/ev-1880s/ev-1889/sam-hur.htm for details]</ref>]]

[[File:Samoa1889.jpg|thumb|300px|Germania (Germany) and Columbia are united in grief after a cyclone killed 50 American sailors and 90 German sailors in Samoa in March, 1889. ''Puck'' cover, April 10, 1889<ref>See [http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/ev-1880s/ev-1889/sam-hur.htm for details]</ref>]]